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Dehiscence of the bony roof of the superior semicircular canal in the middle cranial fossa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2006

Atsunobu Tsunoda  and
Omi Terasaki
Atsunobu Tsunoda
Affiliation:
Evolutionary Anatomy Unit, Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK.
Omi Terasaki
Affiliation:
Neuroscience Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Ibaraki, Japan.
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Abstract

Spontaneous dehiscence of the superior semicircular canal (SSC) in the middle cranial fossa is rare and may cause clinical problems. This dehiscence was investigated in cadaveric and dried temporal bone specimens. One cadaveric specimen showed a spontaneous defect: the dehiscence was a symmetrical, elongated ellipse with smooth margins. Four of 244 dry bone specimens showed bony defects in the roof of the SSC, however, only one specimen was thought to have a spontaneous defect. Based on computer-simulation models, we hypothesized that spontaneous defects of the SSC may arise during the fetal period. Although rare, this defect may cause problems in middle cranial fossa surgery and may relate to certain vertiginous disorders.

Keywords

Temporal BoneAbnormalitiesSkull BaseMicroscopy Electron ScanningSemicircular Canals
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 116 , Issue 7 , July 2002 , pp. 514 - 518
Copyright
© Royal Society of Medicine Press Limited 2002

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